Penguins lost three of the five basic tastes – sweet, bitter and the savoury meaty taste known as umami – more than 20 million years ago, and have never regained them. This revealing came from a University of Michigan-led study of penguin genetics. Penguins are basically fish eaters; the loss of the umami taste is especially perplexing. Although the findings are surprising and puzzling and cannot have a good explanation,...